At age 16, Mady Alcock saved a life.
The Cicero, New York teen was babysitting 2-year-old Lyla and 6-month-old Sonny when something very unexpected took place. Sonny started some “extreme crying and all of a sudden stopped, like, abruptly. And I thought nothing of it until I looked down at him and he was turning blue,” shares Mady. Her natural instinct was to start infant CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). That’s because last year in high school she was taught CPR for various age brackets. And for babies the CPR technique is different so the child is not injured.
The knowledge was there and so was Mady’s courage. As she gently and deliberately used her fingers on Sonny’s chest, she also told Siri to call 911 to get paramedics on their way. “From the time he stopped breathing to the time he became responsive was roughly three minutes. It was very scary, but when he came to it was like relieving when he let out a cry.”
Sonny’s mother, Sam Becotte, told us, “I would just say Mady is a literal life saver. She handled a very scary situation without even flinching. Every single doctor, specialist and nurse had commended her on handling everything perfectly. I’m so proud, and so thankful. Mady saved my sweet baby boy and I’m forever indebted to her! I also hope that this situation shows how important learning CPR is and I hope it pushes people to take a class, because you never know who you could save!”
Sonny’s grandmother, Juliana Becotte, said, “My little grandson is alive because of this young lady. We want to thank God and sing her (Mady’s) praises.”
If you are interested in learning more about CPR, here’s one source, The University of Washington School of Medicine, that includes information for helping people in various age groups, including how-to videos. Also, you may find locally that a hospital or organization offers in-person training.
We invite you to listen to our complete podcast interview with Mady just below. Learn how she is considering a career as a pediatric occupational therapist, because she wants to help children. And we’d say Mady is already off to a great start!
